Posts Tagged ‘auditions’

ANNOUNCING: The Magnet Theater’s Very Own 10-Minute Play Festival

Calling all playwrights and actors and anyone who has ever wanted to try playwriting and acting! Magnet Theater is proud to announce that in 2017, it will host its first 10-Minute Play Festival. The 10-Minute play is a distinctly American artform all about heart and words and barebones theater — concepts that have always had a home at the Magnet Theater.

Starting in January 2017, we will be calling for submissions of original, 10-minute comedic plays — so get cracking! Are you a sketch writer looking for a new challenge? Do you have a great story to tell? Is “writing more” one of your New Year’s resolutions? Now is your chance. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to submit!

A panel of Magnet community members will read the submissions and select a total of five plays, so get excited, because auditions for these plays will then be held at the end of February. Are you an improviser who wants to try some honest-to-goodness theater? Are you an actor looking for a new show? Is “doing one thing that scares you” one of your New Year’s resolutions? Now is your chance! (Well, the end of February will be your chance.) These auditions are open to anyone and everyone!

All of this will culminate in the debut performance of our five original shows at Magnet Theater’s Very Own 10-Minute Play Festival, Sunday March 19th and 26th, at 7:30pm! We are so excited to stretch our muscles a little bit, try something new, and showcase all the amazing talent the Magnet Theater has to offer!

FAQs

What is a 10-Minute Play?

A 10-minute play is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a One Act that is only 10 minutes long.

What makes a good 10-Minute play?

First of all, they have to be 10-minutes, so don’t submit anything over 11 pages. Be careful of too much exposition. A 10-minute play has to pack a lot into a short time. If we want to see a whole journey in under 10 minutes, clarity and economy are key. Make every line do work for you. To that end, keep tech fairly simply, and you usually wouldn’t see more than 4 characters (only 2 or 3 is even more common). Also, have fun! (There are tons of resourcesonline if you’d like to do some research!)

What are the important dates?

Submissions for original plays will be open January – February 19th (though start writing now!) Auditions will be February 26 – 28. Show days will be March 19th and 26th at 7:30pm.

Can you submit if you’re not a part of the Magnet community?

You bet! Though slight preference will be given to members of the Magnet community.

We are excited to announce that Musical Megawatt auditions are coming up! To submit for an audition slot, please fill out THIS FORM! Please note that only people who have completed Musical Improv Level 3 at the Magnet Theater are eligible to submit.

This season, auditions will take place on Sunday, September 25th, from 6:30pm to 10:30pm, with callbacks on Saturday, October 1st at the same time. Both rounds of auditions will be at the Magnet Training Center, located at 22 West 32nd Street on the 10th Floor. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s schedules, but please understand that we can’t guarantee anyone a particular audition time.

Submissions must be received by Monday, September 19th, and emails with assigned audition times will be sent out on Wednesday, September 21st.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email Michael Lutton at mjlutton@gmail.com.

Magnet Theater is now accepting applications for the 2016 fall season of Megawatt. Please fill out THIS FORM no later than WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th to apply for an audition slot. Auditions will take place on Sunday, September 11th, with callbacks being Monday, September 12th.

Anyone who has completed Magnet Level 6 is eligible to apply, though please note that a completed form does not guarantee an audition slot. Due to the high volume of eligible improvisers and a limited number of slots, priority will be given to students and performers who have finished the class or performed on a Megawatt team within the last year.

The Magnet Theater is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2016 Fall/Winter Season of MAGNET SKETCH TEAMS, which will run from September 12th through Jan 30th! Applications are due by Monday, August 1st, at 5pm!

Please read the following application instructions and sketch team participant expectations very carefully – we’ve made some very big changes to the program. Got questions? Come to the Fall 2016 Sketch Team info sessions Wednesday, June 29th at 6pm at the TC.

GENERAL SKETCH SHOW EXPECTATIONS

Each team will create one 20-25 minute sketch show every three to four weeks.

All sketch team shows will be on Monday nights at 7:30pm! Two teams will perform in each show.

All sketch team shows must contain new, original material written specifically for Magnet Sketch Night that has never been previously performed.

Each show will contain the best material created for the team as selected by the director – there is no guarantee that every writer will get a sketch in each show or that every actor will be featured in each show. Funny wins. Them’s the breaks.

All sketches will be performed by the team’s ensemble cast of sketch actors. If a particular sketch requires it, the team may use outside casting (writers, other actors) at the director’s discretion.

GENERAL SKETCH TEAM EXPECTATIONS

Sketch team members are expected to attend all required meetings and shows and arrive fully prepared. Sketch is time intensive – make sure you can commit 100% and make sketch a priority before applying.

Sketch team members must be available 1:30-4:30pm the Sunday before their show for a mandatory tech rehearsal at the theater.

Sketch team members may not schedule conflicting appointments (work, rehearsals, shows, etc) during scheduled techs, shows, rehearsals, or meetings.

Sketch teams must rehearse with a Magnet approved director. Each individual sketch team member is responsible for paying their director a flat rate of $12/week; team due collection is left to the discretion of the director and team (as it would be for an improv team or practice group).

Sketch team members are expected to promote their shows at the theater.

For the Fall/Winter 2016 Sketch Season, you must apply as a writer, performer, or a writer/performer. Expectations, prerequisites, and application instructions for each role are below!

WRITER EXPECTATIONS

Writers must attend one 3 hour writing meeting per week, all performance rehearsals of their sketches, and all tech rehearsals.

Writers must constantly generate new material and are required to bring in a minimum of one new sketch per week, even during show week.

Writers are expected to be respectful and gracious collaborators in writing room. Writers should give and receive feedback to and from their teammates in an open and constructive manner.

Writers will be required to rewrite material and meet deadlines as requested by their director.

WRITER PREREQUISITES

Completion of (or current enrollment in) Magnet Sketch Writing Level 2 or previous participation on a Magnet Sketch team (as any role).

Equivalent sketch writing experience somewhere else!

WRITER APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Send the following materials to sketchdirector@magnettheater.com with the subject line, “2016 FALL/WINTER MAGNET SKETCH TEAM APPLICATION// WRITER // <YOUR NAME>”.

If your comedy experience is mostly outside of the Magnet Theater, you must provide the email address for a reference.

A single PDF of a sketch writing sample. Your sample should contain at least two sketches and may not exceed 10 pages.

PERFORMER EXPECTATIONS

Performers must be available for a regularly scheduled 2-3 hour performance rehearsal the week leading up to the show (ex: Sketch Team Fart Police has a performance rehearsal every Tuesday before a show, 7-10pm)

Performers must be available for techs, table reads, and any additional rehearsals as required by the director.

Performers must learn all show material in a timely manner.

Performers may collaborate with writers outside of rehearsals to help create characters and sketches, but performers should not be writing material on their own for shows.

Performers must perform sketches as they are written – ad libbing is good in a pinch, but be prepared and don’t put yourself in positions where you must resort to improvisation. Be polished and professional in all shows.

PERFORMER PREREQUISITES

Completion of or current enrollment in Level 6 team performance workshop, participation in a past or current Megawatt team, or previous participation in a Magnet Sketch Team (as any role).

Equivalent sketch performing experience somewhere else! You must also provide a contactable reference who knows your work well.

A SINGLE link to a 3-5 minute sample of your work as a performer. This can be a reel, a recording of a stage sketch, a video sketch, a monologue directed at a webcam, anything you feel showcases you as a comedic performer. Youtube or Vimeo preferred. The link can be public, private, or unlisted – just be sure to send passwords if necessary and you may only send one link and the link itself may be no longer than 5 minutes.

You will be informed by Monday, September 8th, if you have been selected to audition in person. In-person auditions will be held on Friday, August 12th, and Saturday, August 13th at the Magnet Training Center. Unfortunately, if you are not available for the above callback dates, you cannot be considered as a performer for the 2016 Fall/Winter Sketch Season.

For the in-person audition, you will perform two contrasting sketches that will be assigned to you and another applicant a couple days prior to the audition. You must be completely off-book and you may rehearse before hand with your scene partner, at your discretion. You will also be asked to cold read sketches in the room.

WRITER/ PERFORMER EXPECTATIONS

Writer/performers must meet all writer expectations AND performer expectations.

Writer/performers are expected to write for other performers as well as for themselves. There is no guarantee that a writer/performer will perform in all of their own work.

WRITER/PERFORMER PREREQUISITES

Writer/performers must meet all writer AND performer prerequisites or previous participation on a Magnet Sketch team (as any role) or equivalent experience somewhere else.

Also, please indicate if you are willing to be considered as a writer or actor ONLY if you are not selected for a writer/performer position. Be completely honest – your preferences will not be held against you!

You will be informed by Monday, August 8th, if you have been selected to audition in person. See performer application instructions above for more info about the audition.

Failure to follow application instructions will keep you from being considered for sketch team. Double check your application!

The Second City Touring Company based in Chicago will be holding its annual General Auditions for understudy positions in The Second City Touring Company as well as ship actors and other foreseeable opportunities ­this March in Chicago. To qualify for the audition – actor must be a graduate of a conservatory level program in sketch and/or improvisation. Ex: The Second City Training Center, iO, Annoyance, Magnet, PIT, etc.

* ​it is possible that the appointments will be full before 6PM on Feb 23.

An email confirmation will be sent out on or by: Friday, February 26, 2016

The audition dates are: ​March 7 ­– 10, 2016

Callbacks ​will be held on Monday, March 14 ­(time of day TBD)

From Second City: “We unfortunately cannot easily accommodate requests for a certain time slot. The slots are assigned in order that they are received. The audition is completely improvised and will last about 45 minutes which includes the time you are asked to check in. ex: a 10AM group audition ­ has a call time to check in at 9:45AM (15 minutes prior to the audition).

We thank you for your interest and will be rooting for you on audition day!”

From Magnet: Finally a great excuse to squeeze nine improvisers into a Zipcar and drive to Chicago in March! Break a leg, everyone!

Magnet Theater is now accepting applications for the 2016 Spring season of Megawatt. Please fill out THIS FORM no later than FEBRUARY 29th to apply for an audition slot. Auditions will take place on March 10th, 11th, and 12th, with callbacks being Sunday, March 13th. Changes to the Megawatt lineup will be announced on Monday, March 14th.

Anyone who has completed Magnet Level 6 is eligible to apply, though please note that a completed form does not guarantee an audition slot. Due to the high volume of eligible improvisers and a limited number of slots, priority will be given to students and performers who have finished the class or performed on a Megawatt team within the last year.

The Magnet Theater is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2016 Winter/Spring Season of SKETCH TEAMS, which will run from February 1st through July 11th! All applications are due by Wednesday, December 2nd at 8pm!

Please read the following application instructions and sketch team participant expectations very carefully – we’ve made some very big changes to the program. Got questions? Come to the Winter/Spring 2016 Sketch Team info sessions Wednesday, November 11th, & November 18th at 6pm in room A at the Magnet Training Center!

GENERAL SKETCH SHOW EXPECTATIONS

Each team will create one 20-25 minute sketch show every three to four weeks.

All sketch team shows will be on Monday nights! In February, sketch team shows will be at 8:30pm. For the rest of the sketch season, shows will be at 7:30pm. Two teams will perform in each show.

All sketch team shows must contain new, original material written specifically for Magnet Sketch Night that has never been previously performed.

Each show will contain the best material created for the team as selected by the director – there is no guarantee that every writer will get a sketch in each show or that every actor will be featured in each show. Funny wins. Them’s the breaks.

All sketches will be performed by the team’s ensemble cast of sketch actors. If a particular sketch requires it, the team may use outside casting (writers, other actors) at the director’s discretion.

GENERAL SKETCH TEAM EXPECTATIONS

Sketch team members are expected to attend all required meetings and shows and arrive fully prepared. Sketch is time intensive – make sure you can commit 100% and make sketch a priority before applying.

Sketch team members must be available 1:30-4:30pm the Sunday before their show for a mandatory tech rehearsal at the theater.

Sketch team members may not schedule conflicting appointments (work, rehearsals, shows, etc) during scheduled techs, shows, rehearsals, or meetings.

Sketch teams must rehearse with a Magnet approved director. Each individual sketch team member is responsible for paying their director a flat rate of $12/week; team due collection is left to the discretion of the director and team (as it would be for an improv team or practice group).

Sketch team members are expected to promote their shows at the theater.

For the Winter/Spring 2016 Sketch Season, you must apply as a writer, performer, or a writer/performer. Expectations, prerequisites, and application instructions for each role are below!

WRITER EXPECTATIONS

Writers must attend one 3 hour writing meeting per week, all performance rehearsals of their sketches, and all tech rehearsals.

Writers must constantly generate new material and are required to bring in a minimum of one new sketch per week, even during show week.

Writers are expected to be respectful and gracious collaborators in writing room. Writers should give and receive feedback to and from their teammates in an open and constructive manner.

Writers will be required to rewrite material and meet deadlines as requested by their director.

WRITER PREREQUISITES

Completion of (or current enrollment in) Magnet Sketch Writing Level 2 or previous participation on a Magnet Sketch team (as any role).

WRITER APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Send the following materials to sketchdirector@magnettheater.com with the subject line, “2016 WINTER/SPRING MAGNET SKETCH TEAM APPLICATION// WRITER // <YOUR NAME>”.

A single PDF of a sketch writing sample. Your sample should contain at least two sketches and may not exceed 10 pages.

PERFORMER EXPECTATIONS

Performers must be available for a regularly scheduled 2-3 hour performance rehearsal the week leading up to the show (ex: Sketch Team Fart Police has a performance rehearsal every Tuesday before a show, 7-10pm)

Performers must be available for techs, table reads, and any additional rehearsals as required by the director.

Performers must learn all show material in a timely manner.

Performers may collaborate with writers outside of rehearsals to help create characters and sketches, but performers should not be writing material on their own for shows.

Performers must perform sketches as they are written – ad libbing is good in a pinch, but be prepared and don’t put yourself in positions where you must resort to improvisation. Be polished and professional in all shows.

PERFORMER PREREQUISITES

Completion of or current enrollment in Level 6 team performance workshop, participation in a past or current Megawatt team, or previous participation in a Magnet Sketch Team (as any role).

A SINGLE link to a 3-5 minute sample of your work as a performer. This can be a reel, a recording of a stage sketch, a video sketch, a monologue directed at a webcam, anything you feel showcases you as a comedic performer. Youtube or Vimeo preferred. The link can be public, private, or unlisted – just be sure to send passwords if necessary and you may only send one link and the link itself may be no longer than 5 minutes.

You will be informed by Monday, December 7th, if you have been selected to audition in person. In-person auditions will be held on Saturday, December 12th at the Magnet Training Center. Unfortunately, if you are not available on December 12th, you cannot be considered as a performer for the 2016 Winter/Spring Sketch Season.

For the in-person audition, you will perform two contrasting sketches that will be assigned to you and another applicant a couple days prior to the audition. You must be completely off-book and you may rehearse before hand with your scene partner, at your discretion. You will also be asked to cold read sketches in the room.

WRITER/ PERFORMER EXPECTATIONS

Writer/performers must meet all writer expectations AND performer expectations.

Writer/performers are expected to write for other performers as well as for themselves. There is no guarantee that a writer/performer will perform in all of their own work.

WRITER/PERFORMER PREREQUISITES

Writer/performers must meet all writer AND performer prerequisites or previous participation on a Magnet Sketch team (as any role).

Also, please indicate if you are willing to be considered as a writer or actor ONLY if you are not selected for a writer/performer position. Be completely honest – your preferences will not be held against you!

You will be informed by Monday, December 7th, if you have been selected to audition in person. See performer application instructions above for more info about the audition.

Failure to follow application instructions will keep you from being considered for sketch team. Double check your application!

We’re so excited to announce that auditions for the next season of Musical Megawatt will be held on Saturday, September 26th from 6:30-10:30pm at the Magnet Training Center. Callbacks will be held Sunday, September 27th.

To schedule an audition time, please fill out this form. We’ll do our best to accommodate everyone’s schedules, but please understand that we can’t guarantee anyone a particular audition time.

Applications must be received by Wednesday, September 16th. Emails with audition slots will be sent on Friday, September 18th.

Anyone who has completed Musical Improv Level 3 at Magnet Theater is eligible to audition.

To find out more information and to get an audition slot, please follow THIS LINK!

We’re now accepting applications for the 2015 fall season of Megawatt. Please fill out THIS FORM no later than SEPTEMBER 2ND to apply for an audition slot.

Anyone who has completed Magnet Level 6 is eligible to apply, though please note that a completed form does not guarantee an audition slot. Due to the high volume of eligible improvisers and a limited number of slots, priority will be given to students and performers who have finished the class or performed on a Megawatt team within the last year.

Confirmations will be sent out by SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th. Good luck to everyone!